With effect from 5th April 2008 competency, on waste management and other permitted facilities, is defined by the Environmental Permitting Regulations (EPR) 2007. These Regulations allow DEFRA/WAG to approve a competency scheme for England and Wales that meets these requirements. This is a major change from the previous COTC competency that operated under Waste Management Licensing. In Scotland and Northern Ireland the existing requirements continue until further notice.
Two competency schemes are proposed:
- CIWM/WAMITAB (scheme awaiting approval) – Personal basis
- ESA/EU (awaiting approval) – Corporate basis
For fuller guidance and details of the schemes please see the documents in the dedicated area of our website – Waste Management Competence – Environmental Permitting Regulations 2007
Statutory Competence
This is principally aimed at waste contractors or other operators of permitted facilities – which increasingly may be waste producers.
The CIWM/WAMITAB scheme – in summary the main elements are:
1. Initial Competence – within four weeks of (except landfills where required prior to) the issue of an environmental permit obtain one of the following as relevant:
- Low Risk - Environmental Permit Operators Certificate (EPOC) OR relevant four Units of an NVQ (relevant Operator Competence Certificate)
- Medium Risk - Environmental Permit Operators Certificate (EPOC) OR relevant six Units of NVQ (relevant Operator Competence Certificate) OR relevant VRQ (Certificate in Wastes and Resource Management)
- High Risk- Environmental Permit Operators Certificate (EPOC) OR relevant twelve Unit NVQ (relevant Operator Competence Certificate)
Note: normally initial competence for new permits will be achieved via the EPOC – though candidates can opt to go straight to the next level or type of competence where time permits
2. Operator Competence – within 12 months of the issue of the permit obtain one of the following as relevant:
- Low Risk – no further competence required
- Medium Risk - relevant six Units of an NVQ (relevant Operator Competence Certificate) OR relevant VRQ (Certificate in Wastes and Resource Management)
- High Risk - relevant twelve Unit NVQ (relevant Operator Competence Certificate)
3. Continuing Competence – every two years pass a computer based knowledge assessment – this applies to all Risks though higher risk competent personnel will have to demonstrate a higher level of knowledge
For further details on the content and different approaches for NVQ’s or VRQ go to Waste & Recycling – NVQ’s and VRQ’s
For further details on the EPOC go to http://www.ciwm.co.uk
SERAC will be developing relevant training courses to prepare candidates who need to take the assessment for Continuing Competence every two years – more details to follow when the syllabus in confirmed.
Non Statutory Competence
In addition to competence as required by the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2007 there are other awards or training that can be obtained to enhance employees’ skills and qualifications – see:
Waste & Recycling – NVQ’s and VRQ’s
Waste & Recycling - Learning